Means for separating associated liquids



,C. W. M KIBBEN MEANS FOR SEPARATING ASSOCIATED LIQUIDS Nov. 13, 1928. I 1,691,578

Filed April 192s JIWEF LIJR Charles 122 m fi z'fibezz Patented No v. 13,1923.

UNITED. STATES CHARLES W. IcmBEN, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

m8 FOB SEPARLTIKG ASSOCIATED LIQUIDS.

Application fled April 8,

I This invention relates to improvements in my Patent No. 1,276,387 for a method of separating associated liquids, dated August 20th, 1918, covering the art of separating associated liquids, in which particles of one liquid are held or bound in mechanical suspension in another as in emulsions, for example, as crude petroleum and water.

This invention relates primarily to an improvement in the apparatus for accomplishing the separation of associated liquids by providing a transformer controlled valve in the emulsified oil supply pipe connected with the treater to afford a means whereby the m treater will act automatically when potential changes occur between electrically energized electrodes when the path through the liquid changes in resistance by the interchange' of oil and water as the process of separation progresses.

It is an object of this invention to provide an automatically controlled valve in the emulsified oil supply'pipe leading to a treater casing forming a part of an apparatus used for the separation of associated liquids.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a control valve in the supply' pipe of a treater casing, said valve adapted to be automatically governed-by the motion of a I movable seconda coil of a transformer forming a part 0 the apparatus necessary for the separation of associated liquids.

, Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for separating associated liquids by providing a control valve in the emulsified oil supply pipe. which valve is automatically controlled by a transformer to cause the control valve to close and thereby shut off the supply of emulsified oil when the voltage in the treater drops and furthermore acting to automatically open the valve when the voltage is increased.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an automatically acting control for governing the supply of emulsified oil to a treater, thereby m g'the operation of said treater automatic when used an appa: ratus ada ted to produce an improved process for t e separation of entrapped water so from oil, or in other emulsions.

' Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and accompanying drawmg. 56 The invention in. a preferred form is illus-' dorm of a pipe 8 open at its upper end to 19$ serial in. 106,526.

trated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawing:

The accompanying drawing illustrates a portion of a schematic arrangement of appa ratus forthe separation of liquids and including improved apparatus embodying the principles of this invention.

' As shown on the drawing: 7

The reference numeral 1 indicates a pedes tal having mounted thereon an alternating, substantially constant current transformer, designated as a whole by the reference numeral 2, and embracing a secondary coil 3 and a primary coil 4. One terminal of the secondary .coil 3 is connected by means of a wire 28 to an velectrode 7. "The other 1 terminal of the secondary coil'3 has a ground wire 26 connected thereto. The terminals of the primay coil 4 are connected to the terminals of an alternating current dynamo 27. A treater casing 5 is provided having an open- 7 ing in the top thereof closed by means of an insulated support' or block 6 through which an electric conductor or electrode 7 projects into the treater casing. Mounted axially within the lower portion of the treater casing is a second electrode in the permit an overflow of an emulsified oil into the interior of the treater casing 5. Connected in an opening in the lower ortion of the treater casing 5 is one end 0 'a-gooseneck trap 9, the other end of which is integrally connected with an outlet pipe 10 leading to a storage tank not shown. Connected to the lower end of the treater and to the pipe 8 is a three-way union 11, one opening) of which is closed b means of a remoya le plug 12. Leading om an emul sified oil storage tank is a supply pipe 13 having an elbow 14 connected therewith. Connected with the elbow 14 is a valve housing 15 containing a valve 16 connected to a va ve stem 17. The valve housing 15 is connected by means of apipe 18 to the union 11Pon til}? lower end.1 of this. treater casing. ivo connecte to t e u r end of the valve item 17 is one end of a liiilr 19, the other end of which is pivotally con- 5 nected to a beam or arm 20 fulcrumed at' 21 to a supporting collar 22 secured upon the supply pipe 13. Pivotally connected to the second end of the fulcrumed arm 20 is a downwardly projecting arm 23, the lower 1ma place. In t l end of which is bent at an angle to afford a fingeijm which projects between the coils 3 and 4 of the transformer. A fin er v25 pro'I ects from the arm 23 above trans ormer coi 3..

The. improved apparatus hereinbefore described forms a part of 'a eneral schematic as covered in my Patent 0. 1,276,387,,of August 20,1918. The" omitted portions of the schematic referred to may be found properly described and illustrated in the 1 above mentioned patent,

By applying a valve in the emulsified oil suppl pipe as described any type of treater may e used and 0 erated to automatically treat emulsions at all load under constant alternating current by allowing the voltage to drop or vary as thenascentstate of the ohmic factor changes when. emulsions are being treated. The constant current transformer 2 is provided with a shiftable counterweight 29 adjustable on a graduated are 30 to regulate the movement of the transformer coil 3 to cause the same to operate the valve to either shut off the oil supply from the pipe 3 or open said valve to per-.

mit the sup ly of emulsified oil to again take $18 actual treating of the emulsi fied oil the movable transformer coil 3 is adapted to move up or down, thereby causing automatic operation of the valve 16 which controls the suppl of emulsified oil to the treater casing 5. y placing the control valve in the supply pipe 13 with said valve governed by the operation of the movable transformer coil 3 it will be seen that the action of the treater is automatic. If, for example, a large quantity of water is contained in the emulsion the movable tfansformer coil 3 would rise and the voltage to the.

treater would rise, thereby tending to cause a short circuit in the treater; at this point in the operation the upward movement of the transformer coil 3 would engage the arm 25, thereby causing the control valve 16 to close and stop the admission of emulsified .oil to the treater. With the supply of emulsified oil cut off, the treater is permitted to treat out or act on the liquid within the treater casing, after which the transformer coil 3 would go .down, thereby increasing the voltage and "causing the valve 16 to open and admit more emulsified oil into the treater. 7

It will thus be seen that in the practical working of the system that when real bad oil is supplied through the pipe 13 that said oil tends to short circuit the treater, so to speak, causing" the voltageto drop, due to the fact that the treater cannot handle the fluid unless it is temporarily shut ofi'Q- With thefuse of the control valve 16 governed by the operation of the movable transformer out departing from the principles of this invention and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior. art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a system of apparatus for the separation of associated liquids, the combination with a, treater device forming a .art of said system, of an emulsified oil supp y pipe connected with said treater device, a transformer mechanism having a stationary and a movable coil, a control valve -in said supply pipe near said treater device, a pivotally supported beam, a link connecting said beam with said valve and operating means connected with said beam adapted to be actuated 'by the movement of the movable transformer coil to control the operation of the treater device.

,2)" In a system of apparatus for the separation of associated liquids, the combination with a treater and the electrically ener'gized electrodes thereof, of an emulsified oil supply pipe connected with the treater, a valve in said supply pipe, a pivoted beam, a link connecting said valve with one end of said beam, a movable transformer coil forming part of said system of apparatus, an arm pivoted to the other end of said beam, fingers'on said arm adapted to be contacted by said transformer coil, and means for controlling the operation of said movable transformer coil to cause the same to actuate said valve.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CHARLES W- MoKIBBEN, 

